Leg splint



Sept. 8, 1925. 1,552,502

w. A. PENDERGRAFT LEG SPLINT Filed Jan. 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl Alezzdeiyrafammw Sept. 8, 1925.

W. A. PENDERGRAFT LEG SPLINT Filed Jan. 11, 1923' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WAFefl'efyra/Z%Hmm 1 3 Patented- Sept. 8, 1925'.

WILLIAI i. rmmwnnr'r, or C'ARNEY, oxnanoma LEG SPLINTL Application filed January 11, 1923. Serial No. 612,066.

.To all whom it may comm:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. PENDER- GRAFT, a citizen of the United States, re-

- siding at Carney, in the-county of Lincoln and State of Oklahoma, have invented a new and useful Leg Splint, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to surgical apparatus and more particularly to splints for broken or otherwise injured legs.

The object of the invention is to provide a splint of this character constructed so as to maintain a broken leg in a comfortable normal position and to hold it in such position until the bones knit.

Another. object is to so construct an apparatus of this character that it may fit legs of different sizes and which is equipped with removable means to support-the leg at-various inclinations.

4-4 of Fig. 1.

Another object is to provide a s lint of this character which may be quickly applied in emergency cases.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\ In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a splint constructed in accordance with this invention; I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, and i Fig. 4 is a similar view taken on the line In the embodiment illustrated, the splint 1 constituting this invention comprises an elongated substantially U-shaped member 2, the side rails 3 and 4 of which are designed to lie alongside the opposite sides of the users leg. These side rails 3 and 4 extend parallel for the major portion of their length and at their outer rear ends diverge.

as shown at 5 and 6 to conform to the shape of the leg. These diverging ends 5 and 6 telescopically engage hollow side rails 7 and 8, the solid rails 3 and 4 and the hollow rails 7 and S-being preferabl ovate in cross.

sectional contour as shown 0 early in Fig. 4

to prevent them from turning relatively to each other. The ends 5 and 6 are adjustably secured in the hollow rails 7 and 8 by set screws 9 which pass ,through openings in the side rails 7 and 8 at their front ends and enter apertures 10 in the rail ends 5 and 6, a plurality of such apertures being provided and spaced longitudinally .so that the length of the rails may be varied to adapt the apparatus to fit legs of different lengths.

The hollow side rails 7 andv 8 are connected at their outer ends by curved hingedly connected sections 11 and 12 which provide for the rails 7 and 9 being adjusted laterally toward or away from each other to fit legs of difierent sizes. These hingedly connected sections 11 and 12 form, when united, a substantially semi-circular thigh support as is shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and are preferably padded as shown at 13 to prevent abrasion of the users leg.

From the above description it will be seen that the side rails, while adjustable longitudinally to fit legs of different lengths, are substantially rigid throughout their lengths when assembled and may be quickly applied in a manner presently to be described.

Y The side rails 3 and 4 are provided intermediate their ends on their lower edges with cut out portions14, havin'g shoulders 15 at their opposite ends, said shoulders being designed to limit the sliding movement of the foot rest 20, hereinafter described'in detail.

The foot rest 20 is preferably constructed of woven wire as shown clearly in Fig. 1 and is mounted for longitudinal movement between the side rails 3 and 4, being carried by an upstandin sliding hanger 21. v e free ends of this hanger are bifurcated as shown in Fig. 3 and the furcations 22 and 23 thereof straddle the side bars or fails 3 and 4 and are equipped with ball or roller bearings to permit them to slide freely .on the rails in the cut out'portions 14 and are limited in their sliding movement by the shoulders 15 on the lower faces of said rails.

This foot support 20 is shaped to conform to the users foot as is shown clearly in Fig. 1, and the sole portion 24 thereof is equipped with transversely spaced longitudinally extending slots 25 and 26 through inverted U-shaped clearly in Fig. 2. This scale 28 being coni ing, not shown, is designed to be arranged nected with the strap 27 is designed for stretchingthe leg of the patient and the required traction is placed thereon by turning the wing nut 30 to project or retract the rod 29.

Wire cloth swing-like supports 31, 32 and 33 of desired length and depth are designed to be suspended from the siderails at the opposite sides of the apparatus by means of hooks 34 which are soldered or otherwise secured to the supports. These wire cloth supports form a rest for the leg to be supported. Cooperating transversely curved wire cloth holders 35 and 36 are arranged over the leg-opposite the supports and 32 and are held in operative position by means of straps 37 which are preferably made in sections, one being carried by one side rail and the other by the opposed rail,

said sections being united by buckles as 38.

Absorbing cotton or other suitable packbetween the leg of the user and the top holder or clamp sections 35 and 36 to prevent them from rubbing the leg of the patient. I The foot rest 20 above referred to, is also constructed of wire cloth and is adjustably connected to the hanger'21 by means of a longitudinally extending apertured plate 39 through which and'the member 21 passes a set screw 40 to provide {or the lateral adjustment of the foot rest relatively to the rails.

A rest or support 41 elongated U-shaped inform is pivotally connected at its free ends with the foot portion or front end of the member, 2. The legs of said member are offset inwardly at their pivoted ends to permit the support to swing between the side rails 3 and4. These legs are apertured for adjustable connection with depending brackets 42 carried by the side rails 3 and 4. Set screws 43 hold the members 4 engaged with the brackets, and said brackets are provided with a number of apertures so that the foot portion of the splint may be changing the position of the member 41 relative to said brackets.

From the above description it will be obviousthat the splint constituting this invention may be used on either leg Without any change being necessary whatever.

If desired, the supporting stirrup 41 may be folded down flat or removed as may also the brackets 42 with which said stirrups are connected so as to permit the leg to lie out straight. Should the heel of the patient or the ankle be seriously injured, the foot rest 20 may be removed and suitable bandages substituted.

Various changes in the form, shape, proportion and other minor details of construction may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the-claimed invention.

I claim A-leg splint comprising an elongated substantially U-shaped one piece member, the legs of which are designed to lie along side the opposite sides of the users legs, said legs being parallel for a portion of their length and then diverging toward their free ends and extended to a point above the knee of i In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature.

WILLIAM A. PENDERGRAFT. 

